bart's response now to similar issues that were brought up yesterday when it wasn't solved. >> we'll see what happens. on the broadcast, manhunt for a pair of convicted killers on the lam. tonight, high anxiety after a secret plan, and the fake signature that set them free. the fallout as members of congress return home to their districts facing tough questions about the big mess in washington. caught on camera. boy scout leaders destroy an ancient treasure that's stood for more than 100 million year tonight, the backlash and the reason they say they did it. oscar buzz for a powerful new movie about a riveting 12-year fight for freedom. tonight our conversation with the cast earning raves as a new star is born. "nightly news" begins now. good evening.

i'm ann curry in for brian tonight. we begin with breaking news. there is late word that the rocky rollout for the president's new health care law has gotten rockier. for the second time in two weeks, the new health care insurance website that has frustrated so many people is coming down for repairs, forcing millions to wait longer to enroll in a plan. nbc's tom costello has been reporting on the glitches with the new program. and he now joins us from our washington bureau. tom, good evening. >> reporter: hi, an. good evening. nbc news is learning that the government is not going to be rolling out the spanish enrollment tool of healthcare.gov on monday or next week. it was expected next week. hhs says there is no roll out date expected. the white house says native spanish speakers can still enroll in the affordable care act over the phone and in person. they can access information at cuidadodesalud where they will ultimately be able to enroll online.

you want mat -- ultimately. separately now, the gish version is being taken down over the weekend between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. so technical experts can work on the problems with the system. all of this as republicans members of congress begin hearings this week into the problems with the affordable care act website that made it very difficult for millions of americans to go online and shop for insurance. and health insurance companies tell nbc news they, too, have seen massive technical glitches and received only a handful of applications, most riddled with errors. ann? >> thank you for your work on this breaking story. also tonight in florida, investigators are struggling to explain how two convicted killers -- one sentenced to 100 years -- simply walked out of prison using forged documents. at this hour the convicts are still free and the families of the victims are demanding answers. nbc's mark potter joins us from the courthouse in orlando with details on the story. mark, good evening.

>> reporter: good evening, ann. it came to light here at the orange county courthouse. an incredible scam that led to the release of two cold-blooded killers, each freed decades before they would have completed their sentences. the two fugitives are charles walker and joseph jenkins, both serving decades-long sentences for murder and other crimes. released from prison after these fraudulent documents were filed in a court clerk's office, reducing their sentences. the paperwork had the forged signature of judge belvin perry who presided over the high profile casey anthony trial. >> it's for ingenious. it's a breakout without having a break out. >> reporter: after the inmates walked free through the doors of the prison 11 days apart, they each made their way 300 miles south to their hometown of orlando. and incredibly walked into the county jail there to register themselves as released felons,

listing local addresses. their release might have gone unnoticed by authorities if it wasn't for this woman who alerted them. >> i almost passed out, really. i almost passed out. >> reporter: this is the mother of cedric slater who was murdered by fugitive charles walker. she got this letter from the department of corrections notifying her that walker had gone free. outraged she showed the letter to prosecutors. >> i said, how could this be that somebody master mind this through the court system and no one there knows anything about it? >> reporter: stunned officials launched a state and federal man hunt interviewing friends and family and setting up stakeouts. >> all of the information we have at this time indicates that the individuals are here in our local area. we just need to find them at this point. >> reporter: prosecutors have been searching their records to see if any other inmates got out early using phony paperwork. that almost happened with

another inmate whose planned early release was stopped by an alert detective checking files. today the department of corrections announced that from now on, all orders for early release must be verified. ann? >> mark potter, thank you. back to washington and the other big story there. the government shutdown is over. there are lingering questions about what happens next. tonight several members of congress are back in their home districts facing their constituents as many americans wonder whether we will go through this again in january. here's nbc's kelly o'donnell. >> reporter: the unbearable wait finally ended today at the national zoo. [ cheers and applause ] >> reporter: this was re-opening day for a jewel of the national park system. >> welcome to yellowstone. >> reporter: but getting back to normal is more complicated for some house republicans. facing questions and constituents back home. south carolina's mark sanford was on local tv today.

>> what i would say is i'd say in different ways both sides probably overplayed their hands. >> reporter: in rockford, illinois, republican adam kinslinger chose to visit a new cancer treatment center. >> we bought ourselves three months. from the bigger scale from the d.c. scale, three months to have grown-up conversations about the difficulties we face and ways to get it done. >> reporter: while all is quiet on capitol hill until the house returns tuesday, political analysts can already measure damage from the shutdown done to the gop. what is the biggest risk? >> the biggest problem is for moderate republicans and republicans in swing districts and democratic-leaning districts. >> reporter: the cook political report identified a dozen gop districts in mostly blue states where incumbents are considered weaker for next year's election. not only congress. in virginia, home to many federal workers and government contractors, the governor's race

shows democrat terry mccauliffe extending his lead over ken cuccinelli with just over two weeks left. democrats in congress are wary knowing they are under prosecute sure, too. the president has been cautious not to claim political victory. today a tea party pac vowed to topple the gop senate leader mitch mcconnell, endorsing his primary opponent. >> conservative movement is spoiling for a fight and see mcconnell as a top target. >> reporter: for republicans the shutdown is over but their own crisis is unresolved. kelly o'donnell, nbc news, washington. at a time when democrats and republicans aren't getting along a former speaker of the house, tom foley, has died. he was a democrat and a friend of many republicans, a politician who promised and delivered a return to bipartisanship when he became speaker in 1989. foley was swept out of office in the newt gingrich revolution. the first speaker to lose his seat since the civil war. he later became president clinton's ambassador to japan.

foley died of complications from a stroke. he was 84. president obama has chosen a former top pentagon lawyer, jay johnson, to be the new head of the department of homeland security. if confirmed by the senate, johnson would be the first african-american to lead dhs. he is 56 and a former federal prosecutor here in new york. he succeeds janet napolitano. in a matter of days, same sex couples in new jersey will be allowed to get married after a court ruled new jersey the 14th state to allow marriage equality. it's a development that chris christie the governor and a potential presidential candidate tried to block but lost. nbc news justice correspondent pete williams now joins us from the washington bureau with more on this. good evening. >> reporter: and good evening to you. the new jersey supreme court ruling and it's a unanimous one, is a big rebuff to governor christie who opposes same-sex marriage. this is the first state marriage ban to fall as the result of a

u.s. supreme court ruling in june. that's when the justices struck down the defense of marriage act and said the federal government must grant full marriage benefits to same-sex couples in states where they're legally married. today's ruling says because new jersey allowed only civil unions, same-sex couples there were discriminated against because they could not get those federal marriage benefits. a spokesman for governor chris christie said he believe it is decision should be made by the voters, he has nonetheless instructed state officials to cooperate in carrying out the court order. the governor can try in the state supreme court again in january to stop same-sex marriages. but the wording of today's ruling strongly suggests that carrying on an appeal would lose. ann? >> pete williams tonight. pete, thanks. there are a lot of grumpy, frustrated commuters in san francisco after bay area transit workers went on strike for the second time since july. despite extra buses, car pools,

ferries and trains, getting to and from the heart of the city is slow and congested. the system known as b.a.r.t. serves some 400,000 commuters a day. and the strike could last well into next week. now to the other big outcry out west where a state treasure, an ancient rock formation was toppled by a pair of boy scout lewders in utah's goblin valley state park. caught on a cell phone camera, and a lot of people are wondering what they were thinking. nbc's miguel almaguer sat down with the men involved and has our report from utah. >> reporter: utah's goblin valley state park is a beauty only mother nature could create. ♪ wiggle it ♪ just a little bit >> reporter: tonight this cell phone video is stirring outrage. [ grunting ] >> reporter: three men, boy scout leaders on a trip with thinker troops to the park

toppled a rock formation 170 million years old in 14 seconds. >> we have now modified goblin valley. a new goblin valley exists. >> reporter: glenn taylor had his son by his side as he pushed the massive boulder off its mushroom-like perch. dave hall took the video. >> the first thing we say after the rock is on the ground is a little kid right here could have been killed by this rock falling on them. it's all about saving lives. >> reporter: they posted their clip on youtube. now authorities say the three scout leaders could be charged with felony vandalism. >> this is a phenomenal piece of property people travel from all over the world to see. and to have that kind of behavior going on, it was heart breaking. >> reporter: in hindsight the men say maybe they should have notified a park ranger. another lesson learned, they add, is maybe if you're going to push over a natural beauty don't record it and upload to social media. [ laughter ]

>> reporter: people will say you guys are boy scout leaders. you should know better. >> the rock needed to come down. with the information we have today of course we would do it different. >> reporter: tonight the boy scouts of america calls the behavior isolated and reprehensible and says it is investigating the matter. miguel almaguer, nbc news, utah. still ahead tonight, fighting breast cancer. a test about to be made widely available. tonight one family's courageous battle. how knowing her family history saved a woman's life. and later, a downtown building demolition and the moment something went very wrong caught on tape.

it was this past may that angelina jolie stunned the world when she revealed she'd had a double mastectomy and drew new attention to the brca gene associated with the dramatically increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer. now the biggest medical leave network, quest, said it will offer a test empowering more women and their doctors to make the best choice for treatment. our report tonight from chief medical editor dr. nancy snyderman. >> we're going back home. >> reporter: barbara hawkins was finishing treatment for breast cancer back in 2010 when she got a late night call from her daughter sarah. >> i felt a lump in my right breast. i crumbled on my bathroom floor. i just started bawling. first person i call, my mom. >> reporter: what went through

your mind when you heard this over the phone? >> i could not even believe it. >> reporter: not only did sarah have stage three breast cancer, she tested positive for the brca gene, making her inherited cancer more aggressive. she got it from her father's side of the family. in fact, her grandfather is a breast cancer survivor. the 24-year-old newlywed was faced with some tough decisions. >> that kind of changed how i kind of viewed my diagnosis. >> reporter: how? >> for treatment options. i just didn't know what i was going to do. but with the genetic, you know, knowledge then i could make a better decision. >> reporter: she chose an aggressive approach. chemotherapy, double mastectomy, radiation and total breast reconstruction.

her doctor says more women with the breast cancer gene are choosing this bold and comprehensive strategy to improve their odds. >> they want to take control of some of the situation and say, i'm having to face this. i want to be in charge of saying this is my surgical choice. >> reporter: sarah and her husband kirk also forged ahead to plan for a family. >> i was diagnosed one day. we were in the fertility clinic the very next day. >> reporter: the couple froze embryos before starting chemotherapy. now cancer free, she's just weeks away from having a baby girl. it's a joyful time. for this family. >> i will see a beautiful grand daughter come into this world. i am just so excited. >> reporter: for sarah, knowing her genetic history is giving her the power to create the life she's always dreamed of. dr. nancy snyderman, nbc news, seattle. and when we come back, wildfires burning out of control

forcing thousands from their homes. there is a big emergency

there is a big emergency tonight down under. thousands of australians have been forced from their homes, evacuated after dozens of wind-whipped wildfires claimed at least one life and destroyed nearly 200 homes and businesses in new south wales, near that country's largest city, incredible pictures snapped yesterday of smoke billowing over sydney harbor and the world famous opera house. back in this country, take a look at this scene in dayton, ohio. a guy in a backhoe doing demolition work on a building downtown this week when suddenly the building started to lean and then collapsed right on top of him. a witness caught the whole thing on camera. we are happy to report that amazingly the demolition worker walked away unhurt. a big moment at buckingham palace in london today.

malala yousafzai, a pakistani teenager who survived an assassination attempt last year. met with queen elizabeth at a reception on youth and education. she gave the queen a copy of her book. they spoke about the importance of education which is the heart of malala's message. prince philip got a laugh out of malala when he joked parents really send their kids to school to get them out of the house.he really send their kids to school to get them out of the house. and not too far from there, another royal sight getting a lot of attention today. duchess kate who once played field hockey in heels took to the volleyball court in platform wedges. it was for charity. her first solo engagement since the birth of prince george back in july. what has to be the picture of the day comes to us from china where people in a neighborhood were happy to see this go. that's a parking space occupied for a year by an abandoned van

almost completely covered in ivy. police tried to remove the vines but they were so thick and thorny, they ended up towing away the van, still covered in greens. when we come back, the riveting true story being compared to the story of anne frank and the man bringing it to the big screen. finally tonight, thanks to a

finally tonight, thanks to a new film many are calling an oscar-worthy masterpiece. the story of solomon northrup, born a free man and sold into slavery, his memoir was a best seller. now his riveting story is about to be revealed to a new generation, 160 years later. we spoke recently to the film's director, steve mcqueen, and his cast. how did the story come to you? >> i had the initial idea of a free man who had been kidnapped into slavery. i talked to my wife who is a historian. she found this book. as soon as he she put it in my hand, i couldn't let it go. i couldn't believe i didn't know this book. she put it in my hand, i couldn't let it go. i couldn't believe i didn't know this boo she put it in my hand, i couldn't let it go. i couldn't believe i didn't know this booshe put it in my

hand, i couldn't let it go. i couldn't believe i didn't know this book. what was strange was most of the people -- all of the people i spoke to had never read the book. for me it was a huge parallel to anne frank and her diaries. >> reporter: you describe it's the story of a man who is born a free man and becomes a slave. then the 12 years it took for him to find a way out of that. >> you black bastard. strip your clothes. strip. >> i will not. >> what is this film in its essence to you? >> to me, overall, this is a story about human respect. >> i would agree with that. i would say it's a detailed look at how inhumane man can be to man, but ultimately it's a reminder of our responsibility to each other. >> what amused me just then was your concern for my well-being in this heat when, quite frankly, the condition of your laborers is all wrong. >> at the end of the day the

film for me is about love. for someone to go through this and come out the other end still intact is incredible. he's a reflection of us all. >> you -- >> i survive. i will not fall into despair. i will offer up my talents to master. i will keep myself hearty until freedom is opportune. >> reporter: it is clear when you watch the movie there is nothing left on the table. clearly every performance is at a high point. >> i think with steve at the helm, he was the guiding force for all of us. we never b, ever sat down and had a conversation about the larger message or the bigger picture. >> reporter: there is a lot of oscar buzz. what do you make of that? what are your best hopes for the film? >> our best hopes have been met. we actually made it. we actually made the movie. after that, all is gravy. all is gravy. >> the film opens tonight in select cities and nationwide soon. and that is our broadcast for this friday evening.

i'm ann curry in for brian williams. and for all of us here at nbc news, thank you and good night. right now at 6:00, the trains are stopped and we have gridlock on the roads. but there's a glimmer of hope. there is talk of ending the b.a.r.t. strike by 10:00 p.m. tonight. thanks for joining us. i'm raj matthai. >> i'm jessica aguirre. the proposal to end the strike just presented by the b.a.r.t. unions. we have team coverage. we're tracking the traffic. we're going to start with jodi hernandez with the latest on the negotiations and the list of conditions the union says could end the strike this very evening, jodi. >> reporter: now, this is the letter that b.a.r.t.'s unions

have sent to b.a.r.t.'s general manager and the board of directors. in it they say they agreed to b.a.r.t.'s proposal on pensions, medical benefits, and a framework on wages, but the big point of contention, those workplace rules. the unions say they want those to be sent into binding arbitration. now, b.a.r.t. has not yet responded to those demands. as you can see, workers remain out here on the picket line, but there's a band playing out here tonight, and spirits seem to be lifted. b.a.r.t. workers say they're not standing down. after days of marathon negotiations sessions without a deal, they say they had no choice but to hit the picket line. how long are you willing to go? >> as long as it takes. >> reporter: the union says they're striking not over money but workplace rules, rules say they will strip away the rights of workers, somethings they say they can't accept. >> it was a